Music may be one of the most subjective aspects of gaming, but that doesn’t mean we can’t point out the highlights included in this celebration of the artform. From our favorite songs that we were overjoyed to see appear in Ultimate to our favorite remixes that Nintendo’s talented composers graced us with, here’s our picks for the top 10 best songs in this treasure trove of a soundtrack.
10: Battle! Team Galactic (Brawl Remix)
Picking a top 10 really felt like picking a favorite child, as so many of these songs are incredibly near and dear to my heart. But we have to start somewhere, and since my days of obsessing over Subspace Emissary back in Brawl this song has always been my favorite musical entry from Pokemon. Though I thoroughly enjoy the original, this remix is really top notch.
The vibe of this song is just so cool. Matching the futuristic vibe of Team Galactic, this song feels like the quintessential ‘battling the bad guys’ tune to me. This remix just has so much punch to it, like the song is speeding along and it's up to you to keep up. And even though it’s at the bottom of our list, it still sits well above over 1,000 other tracks.
9: Snowman (Brawl Remix)
Maybe I just have a soft spot for songs that played in the ‘Abandoned Zoo’ area of Brawl’s campaign, but this song has stuck with me many years later. It’s an iconic Mother song, having appeared in every single entry in the franchise, and I was beyond delighted to see it return in Ultimate.
This song is much less upbeat than the rest of this list, opting for a more ethereal and beautiful take on a winter landscape, but I think that’s why it captivates me. That haunting choir at the start really grabs you from the get go, and the chimes that ring in the background throughout just ooze that winter feeling. Plus, the drums that kick in later in the song do a great job of instilling that driving feeling in the player, even if this is a more chill entry.
8: Jump Up, Superstar! (Original)
This song is just so iconic, and it’s felt that way since the first time I heard it. A celebration of Mario Odyssey, as well as Mario’s gaming history in general, this song has a wonderful jazzy sound paired with Kate Higgins' incredible vocal performance as Pauline. Nintendo knew exactly what they were doing, putting this song in the reveal trailer for the game as well as in plenty of Mario Odyssey’s marketing material, and it’s a fantastic inclusion in Ultimate as well.
I’ve also gotta give props to how the song is used in the New Donk City stage. Having a base version of the song, only to add instruments and vocals as you collect them throughout a battle is just so cool. The fusion of music and gameplay isn’t something one would expect from a platform fighting game, but the fact that they were able to pull it off makes this track all the more memorable.
7: Lifelight
Lifelight just had to be on this list. With amazing vocal performances in both English and Japanese by Abby Trott and Erina Koga respectively, this song is kind of the embodiment of Ultimate itself. Using the main theme of the game as the basis, this song is just so triumphant, singing of how the light simply cannot be snuffed out.
I can remember exactly where I was when I first watched the trailer for World of Light, with that incredible cinematic cutscene ending with Kirby looking over a vast landscape and this song playing in the background. Anytime you play on Battlefield or Final Destination, this song should always be one of your first options.
6: Big Blue (Ultimate Remix)
Big Blue is a radical song, and this remix sees this song at its most radical. With Captain Falcon being sort of the mascot of Smash Bros, he needs some blood pumping hype music to back him up, and this song absolutely delivers. Since the early days of Smash, this song has been the backdrop to some of our favorite battles, even if the F-Zero stage may be a bit too gimmicky for competitive play.
This remix, in particular, stands just slightly above its predecessors. That energetic synth that forms the melody, as well as the punchy feeling that evokes a high speed all or nothing race has made this song into an instant classic.
5: Beneath the Mask (Ultimate Remix)
What an amazing twist on an already excellent song. While the original version of Beneath the Mask was iconic for its relaxing vibe, the version we got in Smash takes everything the original does well and turns it into a battle theme. Lyn Inaizumi, more commonly known as just Lyn, does an amazing job as well of turning this chill song into an upbeat groove.
The Ultimate remix doesn’t change much in terms of instruments, but rather the context. And it does so to excellent effect, giving this song the energy it needs to pair with the high octane fights of Smash. Persona has always had excellent music, and Smash has created tons of new fans by including said music.
4: MEGALOVANIA (Ultimate Remix)
I mean, come on. It’s MEGALOVANIA. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was absolutely floored not only by Sans’s sudden inclusion in Smash as a Mii Costume, but also the fact that the one and only MEGALOVANIA would be the first time a Mii Costume would come with it’s own music. This song is just peak
I didn’t realize upon first listening, but this song is actually a remix of MEGALOVANIA, adding in some more Ultimate-style energy while also adding in the leitmotifs of a few other Undertale songs. I could talk about how good the original song is, or how it has been memed to death all across the internet, but c’mon. It’s MEGALOVANIA.
3: Fatal Blooms in Moonlight (Original)
This is, in my mind, the quintessential Fountain of Dreams song. One of my favorite final boss themes of any game, this song has that signature Kirby bounciness while also feeling extremely grandiose and triumphant. And although a remix would have been interesting to see, the original feels right at home in Smash’s musical library.
It shifts through so many moods, from that striking piano at the start which transitions into the more upbeat main theme of the song, to the pangs of wistfulness and melancholy that peek through every now and then. And all of this is brought to a head by the electric excitement of those trumpets, giving this song that boost to convince the listener to give it all they’ve got.
2: Gerudo Valley (Super Smash Bros. 4 Remix)
The original Gerudo Valley track was already an instant classic, but now that it’s free of the limitations of the N64 it has become even better. This song has a heightened energy thanks in part to its bombastic instruments and orchestration, but mostly from the upbeat and energetic tempo set by the castanets in the background.
This song is a jam, with that iconic guitar setting the melody and a faster tempo than the original. No matter what Zelda stage you pair this song with, you’re making the right choice for the perfect backing track. And it would be #1, if not for a new remix added in Ultimate…
1: Gang-Plank Galleon (Ultimate Remix)
The trumpets. The vocalizations I can barely understand. Now this is the song of a king, and what a glow up it’s had. One quality that I always look for in a Smash song is the hype factor, something that makes me want to put this song on in the background whether I’m in a match or washing dishes. And this song is the hype.
The energy of the trumpets paired with the drums in the background is unbeatable. I remember hearing this song when King K. Rool was announced for Ultimate, and just being taken aback by how good it was. This is how you do a Smash remix, and that’s why it’s my pick for the best song in Smash Ultimate.
